How is your prayer life? Do you feel comfortable having a conversation with God? Do you hold things back from him through this conversation because you don’t want to “burden” God? Do you believe that God isn’t really concerned about the small details of our lives? Is prayer something that you “tried” but because you didn’t get the “result” you wanted you determined that it doesn’t work?
First of all, is it possible that we don’t really have a great understanding of what prayer is and isn’t? Prayer is a direct line of communication with the Father. It isn’t something we should easily discard. Why? Prayer is a part of the weaponry we have to fight against evil. We have been given the Word of God – which is the Sword of the Spirit – and prayer gives us the ability to bring before the LORD of Heaven’s Armies each and every need and request – and then wield the sword we were given.
Jesus prayed. He brought the needs of himself and others up before the Father in this way. Not only did Jesus pray, but he was in the habit of praying. He would often go off alone to connect with the Father in this way. If Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God felt the need to pray, shouldn’t we?
Jesus also taught his disciples how to pray. Remember, these followers got to spend three years learning from Jesus. They saw first-hand the power that prayer held and they desired it. Perhaps they felt insecure in knowing how to do it, or perhaps they really just wanted to get it right, but they ask Jesus to teach them how to pray and he does. That teaching opportunity is available for us, too.
We know that we are told to pray. We know that it was modeled for us. Perhaps it would be good to have a reminder found in the book of Daniel about what takes place when God’s people pray.
The first chapters of Daniel are about some amazing things that God does through Daniel and three friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) who were taken to Babylon as exiles. The remaining chapters change. They move from narratives of the events in their lives which displayed God’s provision and might, to prophecy. Daniel is very connected to God. He is devoted to him. God is his first priority. It is because of this that a relationship of intimacy is evident.
Daniel reveals to us some of the nature of his prayers: “O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair… We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy.” (Daniel 9:18) “I went on praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people, pleading with the LORD my God for Jerusalem, his holy mountain.” (Daniel 9:20)
So Daniel has humbled himself and has confessed his sin before God. What happens when we come before God in humility and confession? What happens when we plead with the LORD for others?
“As I was praying, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came swiftly to me at the time of the evening sacrifice. He explained to me, “Daniel, I have come here to give you insight and understanding. The moment you began praying, a command was given. And now I am here to tell you what it was, for you are very precious to God.” (Daniel 9:21-23)
Notice the Word says: “The moment you began praying a command was given”… Wow. Do not think, friend, that our prayers fall upon deaf ears! They don’t.
Again, we find Daniel praying. Once again, we find another glimpse into what happens when we pray. “Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.” (Daniel 10:12)
Notice the Word says: “Since the first day you began to pray… your request has been heard in heaven.”
To be clear: Prayer is a tool for us to use to call down help from heaven. God wants us to be in regular communication with Him. But make no mistake – prayer is not something we use like a magic wand. God is not interested in his people seeking magic. To be clear, prayer isn’t about our power – it’s about His. It is making our requests and needs known to the Father – but beyond that, it is about giving those requests and needs to Him. It is a display of our trust in the Creator.
God answers prayers. Sometimes God’s answers are not the answers we want them to be. This should not diminish or discourage us from continuing this habit. Instead of seeing no answers as “prayer not working,” we should remember that God in his infinite wisdom sees what we cannot see and has a plan already set in motion. This does not mean that our prayers were not heard, or that our hearts were not known to the Father.
We must also remember from the wording that Daniel knew very well who he was. Don’t get me wrong – from a worldly standpoint, Daniel is a very devout and righteous man. He is faithful and good. He is wise and clearly loves the LORD. And yet, Daniel still recognizes that he is a sinner coming before a holy God. He humbles himself. He confesses his sins. It is because of this that Daniel’s prayers and relationship with God was a special – even rare one.
We also learn from Daniel, that there are things that most of us cannot see with our earthly eyes happening in the heavenly realms. We don’t always understand the timing of God. We don’t always understand the delays. Make no mistake – God wins. We know this. There is no power that can overpower God’s power. He is truly the LORD of all. And, there is evil and darkness pushing and fighting against the LORD’s Army. Let’s look again at Daniel chapter 10. “Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael; one of the archangels, came to me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.” (Daniel 10:12-13)
There is a battle happening that we cannot see. As believers, this does not mean we need to live in fear. This does demonstrate, however, the value of prayer. We need help beyond ourselves to do this kind of battle. We lack the power, but as children of God – people who have our name written in the book of life – no weapon formed against us will stand. It cannot.
Friend, prayer needs to be a priority. Prayer needs to become a habit. Prayer is our lifeline.
Blessings.